The band was founded by Randy Owen (lead vocals, rhythm guitar) and his cousin Teddy Gentry (bass, backing vocals). They were soon joined by another cousin, Jeff Cook (lead guitar, fiddle, and keyboards). First operating under the name Wild Country, the group toured the Southeast bar circuit in the early 1970s, and began writing original songs. They changed their name to Alabama in 1977 and following the chart success of two singles, were approached by RCA Nashville for a record deal.
Alabama's biggest success came in the 1980s, where the band had over 27 #1 hits, seven multi-platinum albums and received numerous awards. Alabama's first single on RCA Records, "Tennessee River", began a streak of 21 #1 singles, including "Love in the First Degree" (1981), "Mountain Music" (1982), "Dixieland Delight" (1983), "If You're Gonna Play in Texas (You Gotta Have a Fiddle in the Band)" (1984) and "Song of the South" (1988). The band's popularity waned slightly in the 1990s although they continued to produce hit singles and multi-platinum album sales. Alabama disbanded in 2004 following a farewell tour and two albums of inspirational music but reunited in 2010 and have continued to record and tour worldwide.
Owen was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2010, but he was later given a clean bill of health, which led to the band's reunion, without Herndon. Following a series of tornadoes destroying homes and businesses throughout their state in 2011, Alabama assembled a benefit concert in Birmingham, called Bama Rising. Featuring the band's first set since 2004, alongside Luke Bryan, Sheryl Crow and Brad Paisley, the concert raised $2.1 million. "I guess we realized that maybe we missed the playing ... and five or six years had gone by and we were like, 'Maybe that wasn't as bad as we remember it being,'" said Gentry. In celebration of the group's 40th anniversary, Alabama resumed touring in 2013 for the Back to the Bowery tour, referencing the Myrtle Beach club where they first became professional musicians. They also undertook a short cruise, The Alabama & Friends Festival at Sea, which left for the Bahamas on Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Pearl ship. In addition, the band released Alabama & Friends, a tribute album encompassing covers from newer artists such as Jason Aldean and Florida Georgia Line, in addition to two new tracks by Alabama.
The band released their first new studio album in 14 years, Southern Drawl, on September 18, 2015, via BMG Chrysalis. In 2016, Alabama was selected as one of 30 artists to perform on "Forever Country", a mash-up track of "Take Me Home, Country Roads", "On the Road Again", and "I Will Always Love You" that celebrates 50 years of the CMA Awards.
In April 2017, guitarist Jeff Cook announced in a video that he would reduce the number of shows for which he would be in attendance while the band was on tour, due to his struggle with Parkinson's. He had been diagnosed four years prior, and this was his first public announcement about his condition.
In August 2021, the band sold its interest in its recorded music rights catalog to Reservoir Media. Cook died from complications of Parkinson's disease on November 7, 2022.
The band's blend of traditional country music and Southern rock combined with elements of bluegrass, folk, gospel and pop music gave it a crossover appeal that helped lead to their success. They also toured extensively and incorporated production elements such as lighting and "sets" inspired by rock concerts into their shows.
Alabama was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in 2019 and were awarded with the first ever Life Time Achievement Award from this institution.
The members of Alabama are:
- Randy Owen (lead vocals and rhythm guitar)
- Teddy Gentry (bass guitar and backing vocals)
Lady Down on Love
Alabama Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A lady down on love and out of hopes and dreams
The ties that once bound her now are broke away
And she's like a baby, just learning how to play
She never thought that love could ever end so soon
Her mind drifts back in time to a mid-summer moon
When he asked her to marry and she gladly said O.K
Now she's a lady down on love
She needs somebody to gently pick her up
She's got her freedom, but she'd rather be bound
To a man who would love her and never let her down
Well, I know the lady that's down on her love
'Cause I used to hold her and have that special touch
But work took me a way from home late at nights
And I wasn't there when she turned out the lights
Then both of us got lonely and I gave into lust
And she just couldn't live with a man she couldn't trust
Now she's a lady down on love
She needs somebody to gently pick her up
She's got her freedom, but she'd rather be bound
To man who would love her and never let her down
Now she's a lady down on love
The song "Lady Down On Love" by Alabama tells the story of a young woman who is experiencing a night out in town for the first time since she was eighteen. She has been left feeling down on love and without any hopes or dreams for the future. The ties that once bound her have been broken, and she feels like a baby just learning how to play. She never thought that love could end so soon and her mind drifts back to a mid-summer moon when her ex-lover asked her to marry him. She accepted his proposal and became a woman from the girl she once was.
However, things did not work out as she had hoped. She is now a lady down on love who needs someone to gently pick her up. She has her freedom, but she would rather be bound to a man who would love her and never let her down. The singer of the song reveals that he used to be the one who held her and had that special touch, but his work took him away from home late at nights. He was not there when she needed him, and they both got lonely. He gave into lust, and she could not live with a man she could not trust.
Overall, "Lady Down On Love" is a heart-wrenching song about lost love and the hope for new beginnings. It speaks to those who have experienced the pain of a broken relationship and the longing for a love that will never fade.
Line by Line Meaning
It's her first night on the town, since she was just eighteen
The woman is going out for the first time since she was young
A lady down on love and out of hopes and dreams
The woman is feeling hopeless and lost because of her failed relationship
The ties that once bound her now are broke away
The woman's relationship with her partner has ended
And she's like a baby, just learning how to play
The woman is learning how to be independent again after her relationship ended
She never thought that love could ever end so soon
The woman didn't believe her relationship could end so suddenly
Her mind drifts back in time to a mid-summer moon
The woman is reminiscing about the past
When he asked her to marry and she gladly said O.K
The woman had agreed to marry her partner
And a woman came to be from the girl of yesterday
The woman had grown and changed since the beginning of the relationship
Now she's a lady down on love
The woman is struggling with the loss of her relationship
She needs somebody to gently pick her up
The woman is looking for emotional support
She's got her freedom, but she'd rather be bound
The woman is independent but realizes she wants to be in a committed relationship
To a man who would love her and never let her down
The woman is looking for a trustworthy and caring partner
Well, I know the lady that's down on her love
The singer knows the woman who is struggling with her love life
'Cause I used to hold her and have that special touch
The singer previously had a physical relationship with the woman
But work took me a way from home late at nights
The singer was away from home due to work and wasn't always there for the woman emotionally
And I wasn't there when she turned out the lights
The artist wasn't present during intimate moments with the woman
Then both of us got lonely and I gave into lust
The artist and the woman were both lonely and the artist had a moment of weakness
And she just couldn't live with a man she couldn't trust
The woman couldn't handle being with someone she couldn't trust
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: RANDY OWEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sharondumoulin2085
One of the best country bands ever
@MarcosBryant-gk1jv
What do you admire most about Alabama
@ronnielewis1862
Alabama will live in my heart!! Love all their songs ❤❤❤😊😊
@novemberecho3807
I was leaving a bad marriage. This came on the radio as I was driving and I was bawling my eyes out.
@jameshorton3124
I hurt mine not by cheating but by being gone too long as a driver since 1992 she wanted me to drive again $$$ but I knew it would cost me her. Now the miles haunt me to no end and being home is worse t
@kathypucek
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@Jeff-un6yb
@@jameshorton3124 ...I hear ya been there twice...the road is a lonely place for both sides...
@virginiacupps9330
This is so right it's so wrong to hurt so bad. Alabama I met all of you in the 80's at Bar Hill Arena. I worked for the radio station Magic 107.9. I got the honor of going back stage for interviews. All of you are true southern gentlemen. You will always be in my memories. Thank you. Virginia Cupps
@pjones5080
Infidelity and lies are difficult to overcome. Sadly, I have lived this song, maybe someday the pain will lessen.
@claudiaheinowski1471
HEY YouTue, WHAT Rule, did I break that you had to put a line through my sincere reply to P. Jones. I've been there, done that, and was just being HONEST, OPEN. putting it "OUT THERE". It's so sad there is way too many P. Jones, and Claudia Heinowski's in this world. It's a shame God didn't make a whole lot more "Realist 2020"'s .